Paddy Buggy semi-final Interview

Paddy Buggy semi-final previw – Cross & Passion Collge v CBS High School Clonmel

SAFFRON GAEL – Is everyone on the squad fit and raring to go?

JOE CASSIDY – Yes thankfully we have a fully fit squad for the first time this year, with no one injured or carrying an injury. The lads are in great shape and can’t wait for the game.

SG – It’s been a long wait for the team since the Mageean Cup win back in Decemeber. Did you get straight back to training or did you take a break until after Christmas?

JC – We took a break over Christmas as the lads had a long year both with county, club and school commitments so they needed a few weeks to get away from it. Though a number of them were called into County u20 panel which meant their break was limited. We got ourselves back into it in early January and have put in a big effort over last 7 weeks.

SG – Who have you played in the challenge games during the build-up?

JC – With the county commitments and also our location, it is always a challenge getting games at this time of year. However we have played 3 games – Down U20s, Dublin u-19s and Ballycastle Seniors. Along with that a number of in house games.

Cross & Passion celebrate their win over St Killian’s in the Danske Bank Mageean Cup final at the Dub Arena QUB in December. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine
SG – I assume quite a few of your team have been involved with Mickey McShane and Gabriel Crawford with the Under 20 and Minor county teams, which must have been a distraction. How have the two sides managed to work together?

JC – Yeah we have 9 lads involved with County u20s and another 5 involved with county minors, so it has definitely been a challenge. To be fair to Mickey and Gabriel – they have been easy to work with, we all want the same thing, which is our players flying and in the best shape for the battles ahead. So when the lads have been with county we know they are getting the best training and coaching and likewise when the lads are with us, the county know the lads are getting the best of training and coaching. So we have worked it out the best we could and hopefully we will see the benefits come the weeks ahead.

SG – Having watched Clonmell in action in the Munster B final you will no doubt have a few of their players down for special attention on Saturday. They won the game convincingly but Scarrif were very disappointing

JC – Yeah they were very impressive in their Munster final beating big favourites Scariff. They lost last year’s Munster final, similar to us, and they brought a savage intensity and hunger to that final, which Scariff were not able to match. They certainly have a number of exciting players who will take a bit of watching come Saturday.

SG – There must be a great buzz around the school this week. It has been a few years since you played in an All Ireland semi-final and while the current players may not have any experience at this level, yourself and few other members of the management team have gone through it all a few times…and won a couple of All Ireland titles. That must be a help!

JC – It’s been 5 years – too long to be honest! We lost semi final just before Covid lockdown gripped the world to St Brendan’s Birr. These lads were all in second year and a number of them were at the game. Conor O’Mullan whose part of our management team, actually played in this game. But this is new territory for them. I suppose for every school it’s new territory as every year it’s a new group of lads. Within school we have been lucky to have reached 5 All Ireland finals since 2007, so a few of us have been down this road before. The big message we are driving is that it’s so important they turn up and make the most of this chance. School hurling is special and unique as it brings lads that you spend so much time in school with together. They have a fantastic bond between them, the buzz about school has been great. It’s now about turning up and delivering that big performance

SG – Will the late change of venue upset your plans much? The pitch at Belfield is a 4G surface. Have you trained or played much on 4g during your preparations?

JC – Yeah it certainly changes things for both teams, the speed of the ball will now increase and there will be less rucks due to this. We have trained a good bit in Dunloy 4G and hopefully it shouldn’t be an issue come Saturday.

SG – Have your travel plans been upset much by the change of venue. I assume you will travel down on the morning of the match? Travelling to Belffield will probably be easier to negotiate than going to Cavan?

JC – No our travel plans are very much similar. We were in Dublin 2 weeks ago on 4G and we know the journey. To be honest we would travel to Cork to play this game. All Ireland semi-finals don’t come around every year, so we are fully focused on getting the big performance that will hopefully get us into another final

Joe and his old sidekick Oran Kearney during the 2009 Mageean Cup win over St Mary’s at Casement Park
SG – Who is in your full backroom team Joe?

JC – Dominic Bradley – Coach, Conor O Mullan – Coach, Dominic McKinley Coach, Oran Kearney and Jamie McCann

 

Published on SAFFRON GAEL